The White Flood Dragon Saint Beast departed without even triggering the world's Celestial Tribulation. It effortlessly tore open a void, transformed into a streak of white light, and vanished.
Xu Luo returned directly to the Cangqiong Imperial Capital. He spoke with his parents, Lianyi, Huangfu Shishi, and Phoenix long into the night. Other than those present, no one knew what they discussed.
Afterward, Xu Luo entered seclusion.
His seclusion lasted for a very long time. So long, in fact, that when Song Chengfeng and his wife, Chu Xiaoya, came to visit, they waited at the Xu Mansion for two months without ever seeing him.
"My wife and I happened to be away when Xu Luo went to the Ancient Race's territory. We traveled to the Endless Ocean and obtained several divine materials. We had originally prepared them for my brother, but it seems he no longer needs them. You all can make use of them."
Two months later, Song Chengfeng and his wife bade farewell and departed, placing the divine materials directly into Lianyi's hands.
"Please tell Brother Luo that we will be waiting for him in the Divine Domain!" said Song Chengfeng.
Chu Xiaoya looked at the naive Su Qianqian with a touch of wistfulness and said softly, "Qianqian, come here."
Su Qianqian seemed to have a natural affinity for Chu Xiaoya. She stood up and walked over, her voice as clear as a lark's song. "Sister Xiaoya, did you call for me?"
Chu Xiaoya removed a water-blue jade pendant from around her neck. It was exquisitely clear, shimmering with a soft light. Even a layperson could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary item.
Chu Xiaoya personally placed the pendant around Su Qianqian's neck and said, "The yang energy in your body is too strong. For a woman, that isn't a good thing. While this jade can't completely suppress it, it can alleviate the excess and make you feel much more comfortable."
Just as she said, once the blue jade was on Su Qianqian, something new seemed to flicker in her eyes. Looking at Chu Xiaoya, she said softly, "Sister Xiaoya, thank you!"
"You've had a difficult life. I hope you can live in peace." Chu Xiaoya gave Su Qianqian a gentle hug, then offered a small smile to Lianyi and the others before departing hand-in-hand with Song Chengfeng.
Watching their retreating figures, Phoenix suddenly said, "I'm going to be gone for a while."
Huangfu Shishi thought for a moment and said, "Me too. I'm going to travel for a while. Perhaps... by the time I return, Xu Luo will have already left. But I'm sure I'll find him in the Divine Domain!"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Lianyi's eyes. As a daughter-in-law, even though the two senior daughters-in-law, Xia Muyao and Guo Ying, were there to care for her parents-in-law, it didn't seem right for all the younger ones to leave...
Luo Xinlan, being exceptionally perceptive, noticed the hesitation and dilemma in Lianyi's expression. She took the initiative to say, "Lianyi, you should go. Both of us have a Ninth-Layer Divine Power Realm Cultivation, so we have very long lifespans. If we had to wait for you children to care for us in our old age, who knows when that would be?"
Xu Ji added from the side, "Go on, child. Don't worry about us. We'll take care of ourselves. And perhaps, before long, I'll embark on the same path as you! On the road of cultivation, we're all young!"
With a trace of sadness in her eyes, Xia Muyao smiled faintly and said, "Guo Ying and I are here, so you don't need to worry about things at home. I hope you all find your own paths."
Tears welled in Lianyi's eyes, but she smiled and nodded. "I understand!"
Beside her, Huangfu Shishi and Phoenix also nodded firmly, fighting back tears. Then, one after another, the three women took their leave.
Su Qianqian, only half-understanding, looked at the silently weeping Luo Xinlan and asked, "Why did they all go? Don't they want Xu Luo anymore?"
"No, they're leaving for now precisely because they want to be with Xu Luo." Luo Xinlan took Su Qianqian's hand and remarked with a sigh, "In a way, you're actually happier than they are..."
Su Qianqian didn't understand. A look of confusion filled her eyes. The Water Blue Jade on her chest emitted a soft, faint glow, and it felt as if something new had entered her mind. It was like a floodgate had opened just a crack, not enough for her to see clearly what lay beyond.
Su Qianqian rubbed her head, deciding not to think about such complicated things.
"Sometimes I think it would be better to be an ordinary person and live a carefree life," Luo Xinlan said softly, her voice tinged with emotion.
Xu Ji smiled, a wise light glinting in his eyes. "Ordinary people have their own worries. If we hadn't changed as we have, I'm afraid our worries would be far greater... The Great Yan to the south and the Da Han to the north would still be grave threats to our heartland!"
"And my former sect..." Luo Xinlan sighed softly.
...
...
「Three more months passed.」
Suddenly one day, all sorts of phenomena appeared high in the heavens. Vast, colorful clouds coalesced, and the entire sky shimmered with a radiant glow.
The spectacle lasted for three whole days... with no sign of dissipating.
Everyone in the entire world could see it clearly.
Phoenix, who was adventuring somewhere in the Southern Domain, raised her head. She gazed at the radiant sky, a feeling blooming in her heart as her eyes began to mist over. In a soft whisper, she said, 'Xu Luo... we met in the mortal world. Back then, you were just a descendant of a noble family, unable to cultivate. You had a group of good brothers, and they treated you so well.'
'At the Centennial Star Festival, when the seven stars fell, you finally set foot on the path of cultivation. Your power grew so quickly... so fast it left me dazed, at a complete loss. But back then, I was so happy for you, so proud of you!'
'When I was being persecuted by the Tianquan Sect, I thought about asking for your help, but I was afraid of dragging you into my troubles. And just then, you appeared right by my side and protected me. From that moment on, I knew... in this life, you would be the only man for me, Phoenix!'
'There are too many things in this world beyond our control, too many helpless situations. You were right that night. We could either accept our fate, spend this life hiding behind you while you willingly shouldered everything for us... or we could choose to fight, to forge a path that is entirely our own!'
'You were right... Even if we can't help you in the future, at least we can have our own brilliant lives!'
'In fact, we'd talked about this before. We all realized it—including Father and Mother-in-law, your brother and sister-in-law, even Old Fourth and the others—everyone understood. That's why... not a single one of us chose the first path!'
'It's not that we didn't want to go with you. At that moment, I really wanted to say that I'd give up everything just to stay by your side! But I knew I couldn't. I couldn't be so selfish. Because you... you still have so much left to do. I can't hold you back...'
'Besides, all of us have our own pride. We don't want to be a burden to anyone.'
'This vast, iridescent cloud... is it you? My husband... Phoenix loves you so much!'
Tears streamed slowly down Phoenix's face.
Just then, a clear voice called out from the distance, "Sister Phoenix, where are you? The team's about to leave! The captain said the sky is showing an auspicious sign, so we'll definitely be able to defeat that Wind Wolf Spirit Beast today! When we do, we'll all get a huge share of the money!"
Phoenix wiped the tears from her face, a smile gracing her lips as she called back, "Huan'Er, I'm here! I'm coming!"
...
...
When the phenomenon appeared in the sky, Lianyi was in the middle of a battle with a powerful Black Tiger Spirit Beast.
The black tiger was covered in long, shaggy fur. Its two crimson eyes looked incredibly eerie, and its body was massive. With incomparably sharp fangs, its roar could shake a person's very soul.
Lianyi's power far surpassed that of the Spirit Beast, but every time she had an opportunity to slay it, she couldn't help but hesitate.
Even though the Black Tiger Spirit Beast had attacked her first, intending to eat her, Lianyi still couldn't bring herself to deliver the final blow.
Not until the phenomenon appeared in the sky. Distracted, Lianyi was caught off guard, and the Black Tiger Spirit Beast's claws slashed her arm.
Five bloody marks instantly appeared on her fair, jade-like arm.
Lianyi frowned slightly, then sent the Black Tiger Spirit Beast flying with a single palm strike.
The Black Tiger Spirit Beast flew like a discarded sandbag, crashing hard hundreds of yards away. It whimpered, unable to get back up for a long while.
Its gaze toward the beautiful woman was now filled with terror. 'This delicate-looking human woman seemed so easy to bully, so delicious,' it probably thought. 'How did she suddenly become so terrifying?'
Lianyi said coolly, "Today is the day of his ascension. I don't wish to harm you. Go."
The Black Tiger Spirit Beast was of a high grade, so it understood her words. It let out a pitiful whine, scrambled to its feet in terror, and disappeared limping into the dense forest.
Lianyi leaped lightly onto a branch, as weightless as a feather. She sat on the bough of an ancient tree, swinging her legs gently as she gazed at the vast, colorful clouds. Her voice was a soft whisper. 'In years past, I was your Maid, and you were my young master; you were my one and only. Later, I was your older sister, and you were my younger brother; you were the person dearest to me. Now, I am your wife, and you are my husband. With you... I am the happiest person in this world!'
'So, please believe me. I will work hard to improve myself. I won't fall behind the other two. Please forgive my selfishness... because I love you so, so much!'
...
...
Dressed in men's clothing, Huangfu Shishi had transformed into a handsome young nobleman. She sat quietly on the second floor of a tavern, her dashing looks and noble air drawing frequent, shy glances from many a lovestruck maiden.
She, however, paid them no mind, staring blankly out the window at the clouds in the sky.
'Brother Xu Luo, ever since we were little, you've been Qiqi's favorite person. And you still are...'
'Being able to know you, to become your wife... it's the greatest fortune of Qiqi's life!'
'Now, Qiqi's Father Emperor, Mother Empress, and brothers are all gone. I only have you left. So, no matter what, Qiqi will work hard to catch up to you!'
'Qiqi hopes that one day, I can be by your side, weathering all the world's trials with you and witnessing all its splendors!'
'Forever and always.'
'Brother Xu Luo, Qiqi loves you so much!'
'So, so much!'
High in the heavens, myriad rays of rosy light shone, magnificent and dazzling. The vibrant, beautiful scenery seemed both illusory and real, carrying a faint, ethereal sorrow.
A splendor as fleeting as a dream.
Just like the hearts of these women who loved Xu Luo so deeply.
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